New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-14
AMOUR CERTAIN LOOSE TALK.

rain would stop falling, corn wouldn't grow
and railroads wouldn't run if the Democratic
party came into power? We doubt it. Jus'
now tho Democratic papers are saying III
chorus that because none of these things haV c
happened Republican predictions of disasters
to result from "a change" have not been
fulfilled, and the party has lost It's strongest
argument against Democracy
But the Democratic party is not in power,
and has not been for twenty years. IT IS
truc that it controls tho Executive Depart
mept The results there enable us TO form a
conception, though only faint one, OF what
IL would mean to have the Government Dem
CIT tic all the way through. 1t does not, how
ever control the Legislative department..
The Republicans still have majority in the
Senate and this has stood like rock in the
way Of reckless tariff and financial legislation
by the House. 1t does not control tho judi
cial Department. The Judges OF the Supreme
and other United States courts are, most OF
them, in sympathy with the ideas which un-
flinchingly sustained a four years war to
preserve the Constitution and the Union. Is
any man sure that he knows Just what VIII
happen if the Democratic party shall havo
full swing? Suppose that both Democratic
President and Democratic House should be
chosen next year; that enough Legislatures
should 90 Democratic to turn the Senate also
The Supreme Court would soon go the same
way. There will be two Democrats on the
bench when the existing vacancy is hlIod
and as three of the Justices have reached tho
retiring age. the next President is likely TO
have the appointment of their SUCCESSORS
thus making the court Democratic.
That is worth thinking about. How many
intelligent voters ever stop to ask themselves
what a Democratic Supreme Court would
mean? Consider for a moment the record OF
the party on the war, and war legislation. on
reputation. on initiation. Consider the record
of the Southern Democrats, in particular
upon these questions. and remember that they
own. as they always have done, nnc-tenthS
Of the brains Of the party. Then ask yourself
what Supreme Court dominated by Such
men may not mean, in reversing principles
which hundreds of thousands of lives were
sacrificed to establish. in impairing our Ma
tonaI credit, in bringing disorder into or
finances Are these fears exaggerated Judge
for Yourself. II is everywhere assumed, ana
has never been denied, th1t Mr.. Cleveland
intends to nominate Mr.. Lamar in Justice
Noods'S placc-Nr. Lamar who, only lie"
weeks before he entered the Cabinet, declared
on the floor of the Senate that "nobody should
rise and in his presence call Jefferson Davis
traitor without meeting stern and decided
dcnal"; who stood by, in 1915, and saw his
State rcpudatc its debts without word oil
prolcst. though as the leader of his party his
protest might easily have been chcctual. do
the people of the North want to see the Su-
prcme Court pass into the hands Of men who
are still blatant rebels twenty years ahcr the
war has closed, and rcpudiatonSts at that'
This will be one Of the great questions when
conscientious voters will be called upon TO
decide next wear Thus far the Democrats
have been to a large extent held In check by
the Republicans. Who knows what may not
follow in the way of reckless and unjust legs
lation and Interpretation as well as adminiStra-
ton. if all these checks are removed?
But even then rain would still fall. corn
would rrow and railroads would run trains.
No one expects universal bankruptcy and
starvation to follow a change OF adminlstra-
ton. Every wise man knows. however, that
one Administration may mean great prosperity
and another less prosperity, or even adversely
Would the people who argue that 1t makes no
difference who runs the country take that
view about the New-YOrk Central Railroad,
II they were leading stockholders? Would
they say "This is a great railroad. IT Is
bound to prosper. Business is sure to come
along. 1t makes no difference who the prcSi-
dent, directors and managers are. Anybody
will do? If they acted on this principle
their dividends would soon show them their
sad mistake And the stockholders IN the
United Statcs-fOr every voter has share
will have the same experience, If they put the
whole Government into the hands Of a party
noted for its incXpcricnce, its ignorance, Its
instability and its rccllcsSncss.